Curtain-stretcher.



A. W. KNETTEL. CURTAIN STRETCHEB. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1. 191a.

L wfimu Patented June 12, 1917.

ANDREW W. KNITTEL, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURTAIN-STRETCHEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Application filed February 7, 1916. Serial No. 76,529.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW W. KNrrrEL, a citizen of the United States, residingat New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates stretcher.

One object of the invention is to provide a stretcher easy of operation, inexpensive, and so devised as to stretch two curtains at the same time.

A further object of the invention is in a novel manner of folding the stretcher.

A further object is to construct and ar range the various parts of the stretcher so as to provide means of adjusting the frame to fit various sized curtains.

lVith the above and other objects in view as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, I have provided a curtain stretcher easy of operation and adjustment which is more specifically hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts Figure 1 is a view in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a view showing end elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 2 by line 3--3.

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged view of clamp.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of portion of the brace rod and frame portion, the secto a curtain tion being taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the top frame part which is supported by the legs 2. The legs 2 are formed at the upper end providing an L-shaped seat for frame member 1. See Fig. 2. The legs 2 are held apart at the upper end by means of a plate 3. This plate is held securely in position by screws 5 and screw 6. A companion plate 4: on the inside of legs 2 opposite plate 3 is held in position by screws 7 and screw 8. Near the base of legs 2 and held in position by clamp 18 are frame members 17. Frame members 17 are formed with beveled edge. See Fig. 2.

The clamp 18 consists of a U-shaped body having the ends 19 turned at right angles. In the central portion of this clamp is a plate shaped portion having a threaded the size of the curtain or curtains to bestretched. By pushing upwardly, the looking device consisting of two strips 9 and 11 which are securely fastened to the legs by screws 13, causes the hinge 10 to turn and releases the upper frame member 1 allowing the frame to fold together.

It will readily be seen that by means of plates 3 and A the upper ends of the legs 2 are spaced apart and as the locking device is pushed upwardly the screws 6 and 8 in plates 3 and A form a pivot upon which the leg members 2 turn, thereby releasing the upper frame member 1. By loosening the clamps 18 the legs may be slid inwardly along the frame part 1 and along the lower frame members 17.

WVhen the desired position has been secured the brace rod 1A is slipped into socket 16. See Fig. 5. By pushing downwardly upon the locking device, the member 9 of the same, having a lug ,12, fits into a notch in part 11, thereby allowing the hinge of the locking device to turn until the members 9 and 11 are longitudinally positioned.

The pins 24 are securely fastened in the outer surfaces of legs 2 and the upper edges of frame member 1 and into the beveled portion of frame members 17 and strip The curtain or curtains are stretched upon pins 24.

When it is desired to stretch a large curtain and one or two smaller curtains at the same time, the same-may be accomplished by attaching the smaller curtains to the pins 24 on strip 25 and frame members 1, 2 and 17. It will readily be seen that the lower member 17 of frame may be raised or lowered by releasing clamps 18, the screw 26 turned into part of frame 17 will slide within an elongated slot 27. This strip 25 is attached to but one side of the stretching apparatus. The large curtain may be stretched on the opposite side from the side upon which the strip 25 is attached.

This strip does not prevent the stretching of two large curtains at the same time for a large curtain may be placed on the side having the strip as well as if the were not thereunto attached.

What I claim is 1. In a curtain stretcher the combination of a frame member provided with sockets and supported by four legs, plates attached to the upper portions of the legs securely fastened at one end by two screws and at the other end by one screw, thereby forming a pivot for the leg when the frame is folded or when the stretcher is being set up, a locking device fastened to the legsnear the base of the legs, brace rods hinged on the inner side of the legs and formed to fit into the sockets along the side of the upper portion of the frame, clamps for holding lower members of the frame in position, the lower frame members provided with a beveled edge carrying pins along said beveled edge, said lower frame members slidably arranged upon the outer portion of legs, the legs being slidably arranged in connection with upper frame member, a strip carrying pins fastened at the center of the upper 5 frame member and also at the center of the lower frame member, said strip provided Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the strip 7 with an elongated slot at its lower end, an attaching member formed to slide within said slot when the lower member of frame is either lowered or raised.

2. Ina curtain stretcher the combination of a beam member provided with sockets and supported by four legs said legs con structed in pairs, companion plates positioned near the upper end of said legs, said plates being fastened at one end by two screws and at the other by one screw, forn ing a pivot for legs when the frame is folded or when the stretcher is set up for operation, brace rods fastened to the inner side of one of the pair of legs in such a manner as to form a pivot, the other ends of said rods being L-shaped and adapted to fit into the sockets along the sideof above mentioned beam as set forth for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW W. KNITTEL. Witnesses: 1

ALBERT E. DUFFIELD, JERRY SEAMANs.

Commissioner at Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

